The Diveblog

Day 1 – Touring Around

Today we spent the day touring around the south central part of the island with our driver and tour guide.  It was a very interesting experience where fascinating and beautiful experiences were interspersed with annoying (to me) “art experiences”.  For example, the first stop was a Batik manufacturer where we would “learn how the beautiful textile art of Bail is made.”  We spent 10 minutes observing the artisans and 50 minutes touring the well stocked shop.  You see….the drivers are paid by the shop owners for every warm body they bring in.  Although, the textiles, art and wood carvings were amazingly beautiful, I didn’t come here to shop (much), so I was a little grumpy.  However, I got over it pretty quickly because the sheer beauty of this place overwhelms you.

Hit the continuation to see some photos:

Bali, The First Jetlagged Impressions

Steamy, beautiful, friendly and “Jesus, watch out for that scooter!”

Understand that this impression was formed in my first hour on the island.  We were met at the airport by our pre-arranged driver/tour guide, who shepherded our van through one of the most insane set of motorcycle drivers I have ever seen. 

Italian Vespas in Rome……wimps.  You never see more than one or two people on a scooter in Italy.  In Bali, a motorcycle seems to comfortably seat families of three or four.  Generally in helmets, by the way.

Mexican scooter drivers may also pile on the family, but they usually move along with the overall traffic pattern.  From the airport to Sanur, there were streams of cycles (not one or two, but ten to twenty) that would shoot through the slightest gaps between moving trucks, cars and vans.

Took a quick walk on the beach to clear the cobwebs and ran across these beached fishing boats (in continuation:

Doin Fine

In Bali airport waiting for flight to Pelagian.  Internet access was horrible at hotel.  Will post what I can over the next half hour.

The (Next) Big Trip

I'm Free!

Tomorrow I leave for three glorious weeks of vacation and diving in Indonesia.  Its been a long time coming.  A few days in Bali, then a week on the Pelagian, AND then a week at the Lembeh Resort.  What a trip!

I'm so stoked, I've been packed for a week.

I thought I'd bring the site out of its long slumber to share pictures and stories along the way.  I have no idea what the internet access situation will be, but I'll try to regularly post pics.

So welcome back and enjoy the ride!